Separator for removing lubricant from exhaust-steam



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. H. BLBSSING.

SEPABATOR FOR REMOVING LUBRICANTS PROM EXHAUST STEAM.

Patented Feb. *13, 1894.

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Wibw sar 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

J. H. BLESSING. I SEPARATOR FOR REMOVING LUBRIOANTS FROM EXHAUST STEAM.

No. 514,439. P44411444 Feb. 13, 1894.

m! NATIONAL LnHaenAPuu-e GOMPaNf.

UNETED STATES PATENT @rrtcs.

JAMES-H. BLESSING, OF ALBANY, NEW YORK.

SEPARATOR FOR REMOVING LUBRICANT FROM EXHAUST-STEAM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 514,439, dated February 13, 1894.

Application filed May 26, 1893.

nozzles at opposite ends for connecting the apparatus in a line of exhaust-pipe; said casmg being divided into several compartments, by means of transverse partitions provided with steam-openings ranging in line with, and

having the same area as, the openin gs through said nozzles; each of said compartments containing a series of pendent gutter-like plates which are spaced apart to leave open spaces between the edges of the adjacent plates of the same row, the open space of one row being arranged to come opposite to a plate of the succeeding row, whereby the exhaust steam will be forced to pass in a zig-zag direction through the apparatus; the hollow side of said plates being faced toward the incoming steam, and a retardation of the steam is eficcted in each compartment whereby a more perfect separation of the lubricant from-the water condensed from the steam will be obtained.

In the accompanying drawings, which are hereby referred to and form part of this specification, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of my separator. Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the same, at the line X X on Fig. 3. Fig.

3 is a plan view of my separator without the bonnet for covering the same, the pendentgutter-like plates being shown in horizontal section; and Fig. 4 is a horizontal section of my separator at the line Y Y, the waste-water valves and two of the oil-gages being shown in plan view.

As represented in the drawings, A designates the casing of my separator which is 1 preferably made in the form of an oblong rectangular box that is open on its upper side, and is divided into a series of compartments by means of transverse partitions, B, each of which is provided with an opening, 0, through which the steam can pass from one compartment to the next one in succession. At one Serial No. 475,542. (No model.)

end of said casing there is an inlet nozzle, D, through which the exhaust steam will enter the first compartment, and at the opposite end of said casing there is an outlet nozzle, E, through which the steam escapes from the last compartment after the lubricant is separated from the steam; said nozzles and the openings 0 are preferably made to range on the same line and are practically of the same area. A bonnet, F, is fitted to form a steamtight joint on the upper side of the casing A and forms a closure for the open top of the latter. Pendent from said bonnet is a series of gutter-shaped plates, G, which effect a retardation of the steam through the apparatus, and, by the impact of the steam against said plates, effects the separation of the steam and lubricant. The plates G are arranged in parallel lines crosswise of the casing A, in groups that correspond to the number of compartments in said casing, so that a group of the plates will be contained in each compartment. The plates G have their concave faces turned toward the inlet nozzle D, and are spaced apart to leave an opening, H, between the edges of the adjacent plates of the same row; the openings of one row being arranged to come opposite to a plate of the succeeding row, whereby the steam passing through a compartmentwill be obliged to pursue a zigzag course. When the steam enters the first compartment of the apparatus, the increased area of the chamber allows the steam to expand and effect a diminution of the initial pressure and velocity thereof, but with each successive impulse of the exhaust, the pressure will be restored to the initial point and the steam will pass through the successive opening 0 with practically the same velocity with which it passed through the nozzle D, and this action will recur as often as the steam passes from one compartment to another. As above stated, when the steam strikes the plates G the impact will cause a separation of the lubricant from the steam, and, from the greater affinity of the lubricant for the metah said lubricant will temporarily attach itself to the plate, from which it will trickle, and become deposited on the surface of the water, produced from the condensation of the steam, which accumulates in the lower part of each compartment.

I designates the equalizing-passages which lead from the upper portion of each compartment to the lower part of the same; said passages are provided for the purpose of equalizing the pressure acting upon the liquids contained in the lower part of each compartment so that said liquids cannot be prematurely ejected therefrom; each of said passages is provided with an upper port, 1, and a lower port, 2, which communicate with the compartment to which the passage is appropriated; said passage being isolated from the interior of its compartment except through the medium of its ports. Each of the passages I has a waste-water pipe, J, leading from it, said pipes being arranged at a height corresponding to a level at which it is desirable to maintain the liquids in the apparatus, said pipes being provided for the purpose of draining the water from the corresponding compartments during the time the lubricant is accumulating therein,the level of the water above the port 2 preventing the lubricant from passing from the compartment into the passage I, and thence out of pipe J. Each of the waste-water pipes is provided with avalve, K, for the purpose of closing the communication through said pipe while the lubricant is being expelled from the corresponding compartment. Each compartment has a pipe, L, leading therefrom, said pipes being preferably arranged so that the lower side of the bore will be slightly lower than the corresponding part of the bore of the pipes J. The outer end of each of the pipes L is provided with an oilgage, M, having transparent sides for the purpose of affording visible evidence of the level of the lubricant in the corresponding compartment, and each of said gages is provided with a cock, N, for the purpose of drawing the lubricant from the compartment to which the cock is appropriated.

My invention operates in the following manner: The casing A being secured in the line of the exhaust-pipe of a steam engine, so that the nozzle D will be toward the engine, the outer portion of said exhaust-pipe can be connected to a feed-water heater or arranged to discharge the exhaust steam into the atmosphere. The exhaust steam from the engine will enter the first compartment of the apparatus and therein become expanded as hereinbefore explained, it then enters the next compartment to undergo another expansion, and in like manner it will continue until the steam has entered every compartment and issues from the apparatus with substantially the same velocity with which it entered through the nozzle D. W'hile passing through the several compartments, the steam, by its impact with the plates G, will be separated from the lubricant, the latter falling to the bottom of the compartment wherein the separation has taken place, the quantity of lubricant collected in the successive compartments will become less, as the operation is continued, until all the lubricant has been eliminated from the steam. When a gage M, appropriated to any particular compartment, indicatesthat asufficient quantity of lubricant has been collected in said compartment to warrant its discharge therefrom, the Waste-water valve K, pertaining to said compartment, must be closed and the corresponding cock N opened; when this has been accomplished, the lubricant will run out of said cock, and will continue to do so until all of the lubricant is discharged from that compartment, which fact will be manifested by a profuse escape of steam from said cock N. While the valve K remains closed, to prevent the outflow of water, the continued condensation of the steam in the compartment will cause the water to rise therein and effect a corresponding elevation of the lubricant which is floating on the surface of the water, and thereby the discharge of the lubricant from the compartment will be facilitated. When all of the lubricant is discharged from a compartment, the cock N should be closed and the valve K opened, thereby restoring the parts to a condition to effect a repetition of the operation just described.

Byreason of the water remaining in the lower part of each compartmentthe level of said water never falling below the openings of the pipes J-a water seal will thereby be formed in each compartment to prevent the lubricant from passing into the passage I of the corresponding compartment.

WVhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A separator for eliminating lubricant from exhaust-steam, consisting of a casing provided with inletand outlet-openings for the steam, and a series of transverse partitions which divide said casing into a corresponding series of communicating compartments; each of said partitions being provided with a single opening which is practically of the same area and ranges in line with said inletand outlet-openings, and each compartment containing a group of retarding-plates that are pendent from the bonnet of said casing and are arranged as herein described,

whereby the steam will be compelled to pass in a zigzag direction through each of said compartments, as and for the purpose herein specified.

2. A separator for eliminating lubricant from exhaust steam, consisting of a casing divided into a series of communicating compartments by means of transverse partitions provided with openings ranging in line withand practically having the same area asthe inletand outlet-openings of said casing, each compartment being provided with a pressureequalizing passage which forms an independent communication between the upper and compartment to prevent the escape of lnbri- 1 lower part of the compartment, and each of cant through said Waste-water pipe, suhstan- I said passages havingawaste-water pipe which tially as herein specified. leads therefrom alone ata height correspond- 5 ing to the level at which the water is to be Witnesses:

maintained in the apparatus; whereby an iu- WM. F. WHEELOCK, dependent water-seal will be formed in each WM. H. LOW.

JAMES H. BLEssING. 

